| Mexico has three cities where silver jewellery is | | | | locals and motivating the artisans in the Taxco area |
| manufactured; Mexico City itself, Guadalajara and | | | | to rediscover the craft of silversmithing. |
| Taxco. Taxco is known s "The Silver Capital of the | | | | Using his own designs he created an |
| World." | | | | apprentice-based training system, training the artistic |
| Mexican silver jewellery so prized around the world | | | | young and eager people of Taxco and giving them |
| for a number of reasons: | | | | the opportunity to develop their skill as artists and |
| - As the biggest silver producer in the world today, it | | | | silversmiths. Within just a few years the quality and |
| is easy to obtain pure silver and most silver jewellery | | | | beauty of the silver workmanship coming out of the |
| coming out of Mexico is made of sterling silver or 925 | | | | Taxco area gained worldwide recognition for Mexico |
| silver. Other countries more notably some of the | | | | and other cities where silver was mined soon |
| Asian countries tend to dilute their silver to make it | | | | followed suit. |
| go further and it is common to find jewellery at .800 | | | | Williams first apprentices are now considered the old |
| silver content. | | | | masters of Mexican Silver and Antonio Pineda, Hector |
| - Most pieces are hand finished by artisans called | | | | Aguilar, Margot de Taxco, the Castillos, Ledesma and |
| silversmiths who hand down their craft through | | | | Chino Ruiz have produced and continue to craft |
| traditional apprenticeships and along with an education | | | | some of the most highly prized and collectible pieces. |
| these apprentices are given a passion and a love for | | | | Mr Spratling became known as "The Father of |
| their art. | | | | Mexican Silver" before his death in 1967 in a car |
| An intriguing combination of legend and fact the | | | | accident and a silver bust of Mr Spratling resides in |
| history of silver in Taxco is a story worth knowing. | | | | the towns museum to commemorate his contribution |
| Originally Cortes himself opened the mines in the hills | | | | to Mexico and the town of Taxco. |
| of Taxco after discovering that the Aztecs had been | | | | Every November Taxco holds it world famous 'Silver |
| using silver for barter for centuries. In 1716 silver was | | | | Fair' called 'Feria Nacional de la Plata' where craftsmen, |
| re-discovered in Taxco by Don Jose del le Borda, | | | | artisans and silversmiths show their work and |
| when as legend has it, he was riding in the hills above | | | | compete to win the prized award of 'Best Silver |
| Taxco and spotted a rich silver vein from the back | | | | Artist of the Fair.' The local senorita's also vie for the |
| of his horse. He became very wealthy as a result | | | | title of, "Queen of the Silver Fair" and the fair is |
| during a time when silver was worth almost as much | | | | celebrated with fireworks, concerts, dances and |
| as gold and in gratitude to the area built schools, | | | | exhibits. |
| roads and houses for the township. His most famous | | | | Taxco which is pronounced Tahs-ko, itself is located |
| contribution to the area is the Santa Prisca Cathedral, | | | | in the hills between Acapulco and Mexico City and is a |
| built in the Spanish Baroque style which can be seen | | | | city with a natural ambiance and charm with its |
| from anywhere in Taxco as it glistens in the sunlight. | | | | red-tiled roofs, narrow, cobblestone streets that wind |
| Mexico's war for Independence during the 19th | | | | up and down the hills of Taxco. These streets are a |
| century saw many of the mines destroyed as the | | | | bustling hive of activity during the day with street |
| Spanish barons fought to prevent them being lost to | | | | merchants, taxi's and shoppers all vying for space. |
| the revolutionaries. It wasn't until a chance comment | | | | Over 16,000 silver shops line the tiny Plasa Borda, all |
| was made to William Spratling, a US citizen and | | | | streets lead to this, the main plaza in Taxco where |
| architectural professor who came to the area in the | | | | bartering is an exciting adventure. |
| late 1920's to study Mexico and its culture that | | | | Silver jewellery of every design can be seen in this |
| Taxco future potential as the world silver capital was | | | | tiny plaza and exquisite rings, necklaces, bracelets and |
| realised. | | | | bangles can be seen flashing in the sun and artfully |
| Apparently the US Ambassador commented to Mr | | | | draped over black clothes to test even the greatest |
| Spratling that Taxco had once been the site of | | | | willpower. For those looking for silver it is a Mecca |
| seemingly bottomless silver mines for centuries but | | | | and no-one can help coming back to their |
| had not ever been considered a location where | | | | accommodation without snagging a bargain or two. |
| jewellery and object of silver where designed and | | | | Mexican jewellery can be found in every corner of |
| made. This got William Spratling thinking and he set | | | | the world and retains its value over the years |
| about finding and nurturing the potential talent in the | | | | because of its quality and unmistakable style. |